The Best Beer I Drank This Week

After last week’s massive 20-minute trip down memory lane, Brian is keeping things tight and getting right back to business. This week, he stopped into Big Ditch Brewing Company downtown for a business meeting with Morgan from Content on Draft, and walked away with a standout pour that proves Big Ditch’s hazy IPA game is as strong as ever: Tropic Like It's Hot.

Brewed with New Zealand-grown Wai-iti hops, this 7.0% New England IPA is a total tropical fruit bomb. Right off the rip, it hits the nose with sweet, ripe papaya and bright Citra arom...

In the wake of the heartbreaking news that Chandler Street Breweries has closed its doors, shuttering Community Beer Works, Thin Man Brewery, and Smoldered Society Beer Co. for good—Brian sits down for a special, cathartic retrospective. Instead of spotlighting just one pour, Brian cracks open the Untappd archives and goes down a 20-minute rabbit hole celebrating the iconic beers, milestone releases, and unforgettable memories that helped build modern Buffalo craft brewing.

Over at Community Beer Works, looking through check-ins dating back to the garage on Lafayette behind that famous green door brought back a rush of...

We’re closing out a massive double-drop week as we march toward episode 100! Alongside our regular episode featuring First Line Brewing's Fest, Brian is recapping all the action from this past Friday’s Tap & Craft Festival at Buffalo RiverWorks.

A huge shout-out goes to Seth and the entire crew from The Lock Tender in Lockport and Tap & Craft for hosting the Buffalo Beer League en masse and putting together hands-down their best festival experience yet. With The Brass Machine bringing the energy all night long and a layout that seamlessly mixed craft brewers, cideries, distilleries, and arti...

We’re officially past the midway point of October, but Brian isn’t letting go of fall lager season just yet! For episode 85, he pops the top on a can live on the mic to revisit one of his favorite local autumn seasonals: Fest from First Line Brewing.

After picking up a mix-and-match six-pack of fall beers from Wegmans and running through a side-by-side tasting at home, this Orchard Park staple stood out as a clear top contender alongside Ellicottville's Fall Festival. Coming in at 5.6% ABV, Fest is an approachable, ultra-clean take on a traditional Märzen...

After taking last week off, Brian is back in the saddle for episode 84! He headed over to the New York Beer Project Beer Lodge in Orchard Park for a round of trivia and a burger, and walked away with a familiar favorite: The G.O.A.T. Hazy IPA.

Originally born out of NYBP’s rotating "The One" IPA series (likely batch 60 or 61), this recipe was so good they made it permanent and named it accordingly. Clocking in at 7.2% ABV and brewed with hand-selected New Zealand Nelson Sauvin and Oregon Citra hops, this is an absolute ba...

It’s a double-drop week on the feed! Alongside our regular seasonal episode, Brian jumps on the mic for a special bonus recap of the Fall Beer Fest held at Rusty Nickel Brewing Co. in West Seneca. Serving as the headlining festival for Western New York Beer Week (organized by the Western New York Brewers Guild), this tight two-hour session brought together over a dozen local breweries, live music, and incredible autumn weather.

The Featured Beers

Autumn is in full swing, and Brian is leaning all the way into his favorite beer season of the year. After picking up a mix-and-match six-pack of local autumn offerings from Wegmans, one seasonal completely stood out from the pack: Fall Festival from Ellicottville Brewing Company. It’s a recurring classic that Brian has enjoyed for years, but tasting it fresh side-by-side with other local fall beers reminded him just how exceptional this brew really is.

The Featured Beer

Brian is officially back from a two-week sabbatical (including a quick reset in Disney) just in time for his absolute favorite beer season of the year: fall. To kick off the cooler weather, Brian stopped into the brand-new Spotted Octopus Brewing taproom at 500 Seneca to grab the very first pour off their new draft lines: Oktobeerfest.

The Featured Pour

We're hitting a major milestone with Episode 80, and what better way to celebrate than by looking back at an absolute cornerstone of the Buffalo craft scene? This week, Brian is grabbing a pint of a beer that is deeply personal to his craft beer journey: Rusty Chain Vienna Lager, now carrying on under the care of Hamburg Brewing Company.

The Featured Pour

Summer might be winding down and the pool cover might be coming out soon, but Brian isn’t letting patio season go without a fight. This week, he’s cracking into a beer that completely flipped his expectations on its head: Pills Mafia Light Lime from Thin Man Brewery. Brian isn't usually a fan of lime-forward beers, but this light, crisp crusher hits all the right notes.

The Featured Pour

We're staying right in our lager era this week, and honestly, with football season back in full swing, is there anything better than a crispy local pilsner made for game day? Brian stopped into the New York Beer Project Beer Lodge in Orchard Park on his way home from work, caught up with Head Brewer John Hyman, and grabbed a pour of a brand-new brew created to celebrate the Bills: Buffalo Billzner.

This Week's Featured Beer

This week, Brian heads back down to Orchard Park to spotlight a powerhouse local collaboration. When First Line Brewing links up with the lager specialists at Britesmith Brewing, you know you're getting something clean, technical, and hop-forward. Enter Southern Drift, a dry-hopped New Zealand lager that brings big Southern Hemisphere flavor to a crushable 4.8% ABV profile.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian heads back out to Orchard Park to spotlight a triumphant return from Wayland Brewing Company. While craft beer fans are constantly looking for the next big release, Brian details why a look back at one of the very first beers Wayland ever put out reminded him exactly why he fell in love with their liquid in the first place: House Lager.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian heads back down to the Old First Ward to spotlight an absolute heavy-hitter from Resurgence Brewing Company. While local taplists are routinely packed with rotating releases, Brian pauses to champion a returning champion that deserves a permanent spot on your local radar: Head in the Clouds.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian stands inside Other Half Buffalo at Seneca One Tower, looks at a tap list dominated by 20 hazy IPAs and three fruited sours, and orders... a milk stout. Reaching past the hops, Brian treats himself to Egg Cream Milk Stout that trades the tropical fruit notes for a nostalgic trip down a New York City soda fountain lane.

The Featured Pour

After another small hiatus where real life got in the way, Brian is back inside the shadow of the historic Buffalo silos to shake off the rust. This week, he is returning to BriarBrothers Brewing Company at 50 Elk Street to spotlight a brand-new release that has the local lager crowd talking: Crazy Child Vienna Lager.

The Featured Pour

The Warm Blanket of Buffalo Beer: Big Ditch Hayburner

This week, Brian slows down to pay tribute to a true "Mount Rushmore" beer of the Western New York craft scene. While the quest for the newest, haziest, or rarest brew never ends, sometimes the best beer you drank is the one that’s been a reliable friend for years. We’re talking about the flagship of Big Ditch Brewing Company: Hayburner.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian visited a downtown Buffalo favorite for a milestone celebration and walked away with a new appreciation for a often-divisive style. We’re talking about Billy’s Smoking Jacket, a collaboration between Spotted Octopus Brewing and Brazen Brewing.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian isn't just picking one beer—he’s recapping the entire CollaBEERation 6 experience. This past Saturday, April 25, 2026, the Buffalo beer community descended upon The Powerhouse in Larkinville for the ultimate showcase of Western New York’s creative brewing spirit.

The Champions & Fan Favorites

The competition was fierce this year, with nearly 40 collaborative brews vying for the coveted Buffalo Beer Geeks Championship Belt.

This week, Brian digs into the back of the fridge and pulls out a "banger" from our friends at Smoldered Society Beer Company. If you’ve been following the Buffalo Beer League, you know Brian is a massive advocate for the "clear beer" movement, but this week, he’s embracing the shadows with Strike Anywhere: Into the Dark.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian keeps it classic with a trip to the New York Beer Project (NYBP) Beer Lodge in Orchard Park. While the craft world often chases the next big trend, sometimes the "best beer" is the one that reminds you why the basics matter. Brian caught up with Head Brewer John Hyman to sample the return of a fan favorite: Goddess Kolsch.

The Featured Pour

Welcome to another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week. I’m your host, Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League, and let’s be honest—I’m basically floating on air right now. Not just because of the beer, but because the Buffalo Sabres are officially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 14 years. It’s finally happened.

Naturally, I had to celebrate with a trip to Other Half Buffalo at Seneca One Tower to snag their latest Sabres-themed masterpiece.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian takes us on a deep dive into what might be the most technically ambitious beer ever produced in the Southtowns. We’re talking about Peche Spon 2024, the inaugural release from the New York Beer Project (NYBP) Beer Lodge coolship program in Orchard Park. This isn't just a beer; it’s a time-intensive labor of love that brings Belgian tradition to Western New York.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian travels to Orchard Park to visit our patriotic friends at First Line Brewing. While First Line is known for their support of first responders and the military, their latest taproom hero, I Got Your Six, stands out for both its mission and its unique hop profile.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian heads to the Silos at Elk Street to discuss a beer that stopped him in his tracks. Typically known for their experimental sours and heavy-hitting hazies, BriarBrothers Brewing Company has quieted the noise with Reflections, a rice lager that might just be the pinnacle of their lager program to date.

The Featured Pour

This week, Brian heads down to the Old First Ward to visit the Frequentem Brewing Co. Buffalo taproom for a masterclass in lager traditionalism. While the hazy IPAs at their Louisiana Street spot are always a draw, it was the gleam of a side-pull tap and a dimple mug that stole the show this time. If you’re a fan of "clear beer" and meticulous technique, this is the pour you’ve been waiting for.

The Featured Pour

After a short hiatus, Brian is back to recap one of the premier events on the Western New York craft calendar: the 2026 Brewer’s Invitational. Hosted at the stunning New York Beer Project Beer Lodge in Orchard Park, this year’s festival spread across three themed rooms, offering a masterclass in local brewing talent. Brian walks us through the standout pours, the award winners, and why the Beer Lodge is the perfect gauntlet for a world-class beer fest.

The Featured Pours

While Brian sampled his way through the entire venue, these were the absolute standouts from...

We are back in the cut for Season 3! To kick things off, Brian Campbell dives into a full recap of one of the highlights of the Western New York beer calendar: Barrel Jam 2026.

Despite a brutal cold snap with highs of only 7°F, the Buffalo Beer League crew (Brian, Scott, Jesse, and Mark) trekked out to East Aurora to celebrate the sixth annual barrel-aged festival at 42 North Brewing Company. From high-gravity stouts to crisp cellar-aged lagers, Brian breaks down the standouts that survived the sub-zero temperatures.

Inside This Episode:

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week, Brian heads back to the silos on Elk Street to revisit a brewery that has delivered hit after hit: Briar Brothers Brewing Company. It’s been too long since a Briar beer made it onto the show, so we’re fixing that today with their New England IPA Desk Pop — a soft, creamy, citrus-loaded hazy inspired by The Other Guys (yes, “aim for the bushes” makes an appearance).

Brian talks about first grabbing a mixed four-pack during a recent brewery stop, how fast this one disappeared, and why he wis...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week, Brian spotlights a beautifully simple, elegant lager: Traditional, a Czech Pilsner from Belt Line Brewery & Kitchen. It’s the kind of pour that looks perfect in a dimpled mug with two fingers of foam—and tastes even better with Belt Line’s 716 Medium wings (a pairing you’ll hear more about in Brian’s upcoming taproom pairings piece).

He first revisited it on a birthday brewery bus stop and has since gone back for multiple rounds. Expect a crisp, classic profile with just enough bready snap to keep you c...

In this special episode, Brian recaps Bottles & Bites at Statler Buffalo (Nov 13). He, Jesse, and Scott hit GA this year—easy entry, stellar venue, and a strong mix of food, beer, wine, and canned cocktails. Pre-game was at Southern Tier Buffalo (Mediterranean Burger + Ghost Note IPL = clutch).

Highlights

Beer stops & standouts:

Food bites (from memory… because they went fast):

In this week’s episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League spotlights a true Western New York classic: Premium Pilsner from Resurgence Brewing Company.

This 5% Czech-style pilsner has become a staple pour around Buffalo, whether in cans, on draft, or—when you're lucky—on side-pull at places like Nickel City Cigars. Brian breaks down why this lager works in every format, what makes it different from Bridge Pils, and why he keeps going back to it.

He also shares a few recent places he’s enjoyed it (includin...

Hello everyone! Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week!

Before we dive into this week’s feature, I want to thank many friends at Iron Tug Brewing for calling into the Buffalo Beer League Hotline — love hearing from you! If you want to join in on the fun, you can call 716-486-BEER and leave me a voicemail about the best beer you drank this week. You might just hear yourself on a future episode.

This week, I’m spotlighting Citra Snaps from Other Half B...

Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week!

This week’s beer took me (and my wife) by surprise — Espresso Martini Nitro Milk Stout from Hamburg Brewing Company. Inspired by the trendy espresso martini cocktail, this 6.5% milk stout is brewed with espresso from Undergrounds Coffee and finished on nitro for that smooth, velvety body.

Hamburg describes it as “a bold nitro milk stout with intense espresso flavor — a boozy hug that’s both indulgent and classy.” I’d say they nailed it. It opens with bol...

Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with a brand-new edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week!

This week, I’m talking about a beer that completely surprised me — French Vanilla Brown Ale from Big Ditch Brewing Company. It wasn’t one I planned to order, but after a sample at the bar, I was blown away and had to dedicate this week’s episode to it.

This 5.8% brown ale delivers exactly what the name promises — a perfectly balanced blend of toasty malt, coffee, chocolate, and creamy vanilla. It opens with a subtle r...

Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week! With Western New York Beer Week underway, this week’s spotlight couldn’t be more fitting: Western New York Beer Week IPA — also known at some breweries as Be Good, Do Good Brew Beer.

This 7% hazy New England IPA was a true collaboration, brewed by member breweries of the Western New York Brewers Guild. Featuring Mosaic, Nelson, Cryo Amarillo, T-45 Cascade, and El Dorado hops, it delivers layers of tropical fruit, citrus, stone fruit, and a touch of res...

Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week! With Western New York Beer Week underway, this week’s spotlight couldn’t be more fitting: Western New York Beer Week IPA — also known at some breweries as Be Good, Do Good Brew Beer.

This 7% hazy New England IPA was a true collaboration, brewed by member breweries of the Western New York Brewers Guild. Featuring Mosaic, Nelson, Cryo Amarillo, T-45 Cascade, and El Dorado hops, it delivers layers of tropical fruit, citrus, stone fruit, and a touch of res...

This episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week is brought to you by The Tap and Craft Festival at Buffalo Riverworks on October 4th, presented by The Lock Tender. Ticket info is available now at BuffaloBeerLeague.com/tapandcraft.

This week, Brian dives into Open Bags #7, a massive collaborative fruited sour brewed at Stoneyard Brewing in Brockport with contributions from more than 20 breweries and meaderies across New York including (deep breath): Johnsons's Landing, Irondequoit Beer Company, Brindle Haus Brewing Co., Brickyard Brewing Company, Brazen Brewing, Eli Fish Brewing Company, Swiftwater Brewing Co., Spotted Octopus Brewing...

Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with a brand-new edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week! With fall arriving and Oktoberfest season in full swing, this week’s spotlight is on Wayland Brewing’s Oktoberfest Märzen (5.4%).

This beer embodies everything I love about autumn. Brewed with Pilsner and Munich malt, hopped with Mittelfrüh, and lagered for six weeks, it pours smooth, toasty, and perfectly seasonal. I enjoyed it both on side-pull at the Orchard Park taproom (in a proper dimpled mug with two fingers of foam) and from cans at home...

After an unexpected month-long break, Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League is back with a brand-new edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week. And this time, he’s holding onto summer a little longer with Raspberry Wheat from Community Beer Works.

At 4.9% ABV, this wheat ale brewed with raspberries is light, crisp, and bursting with ripe berry flavor. Pouring a beautiful bright red, it’s refreshing, crushable, and the perfect beer to keep summer vibes alive—even as the days start getting shorter.

Brian shares his tasting notes, why he prefers this releas...